The French National
Plant Protection
Organization (NPPO)
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1. Our main missions
1.1 Objectives
To guarantee plant quality and protection in the service of
economically and ecologically successful agriculture.
The NPPO therefore aims to:
– Monitor plant production health,
– Combat health dangers affecting plants, particularly regulated
or emerging pests,
– Guide plant selection according to expectations and guarantee
seed health quality,
– Authorize and inspect material inputs, phytopharmaceuticals,
fertilizers, crop supports and genetically modified plants, and
monitor their environmental impact,
– Inspect plant imports and certify exports,
– Monitor forest health and support health managers,
– Guarantee health at the primary plant production stage.
1.2 Missions
To regulate and organize a system of monitoring and control that
guarantees plant health safety in France and in all plant environments (crops, forests, non-agricultural public and private areas,
natural environments, etc.) against regulated or emerging pests.
1.2.1. Regulate
Plant health and protection are skills shared between the European Union and its Member States. Regulations in these fields
are largely standardized throughout Europe, mainly through European directive 2000/29/CE (currently under revision) which
particularly determines the list of quarantine pests. These are
plant pests whose entry into and spread over France are subject
to state-led control measures.
The DGAL participates in drafting European regulations, draws
up national regulations and monitors application.
The DGAL participates in European and international negotiations
to set out the standards of the European and Mediterranean Plant
Protection Organization (EPPO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
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1.2.2 Organizing a system of monitoring and control
This involves:
– Inspecting and certifying:.
The production and trade of plants in the European Union.
In accordance with European regulations, French national
authorities (DRAAF) and their delegatees (FREDON, GNIS, SOC
- the French Official Inspection and Certification Service, CTIFL
- the French Technical Interprofessional Center for Fruits and Vegetables, and FranceAgriMer) carry out an inspection at least
once per year in all production operations and organizations that
are subject to the European plant passport measures (namely
for seeds and seedlings) which ensures that plants in circulation
in the EU comply with European phytosanitary regulations. 7,000
producers and 1,200 non-producing distributors are thus inspected annually. For the latter, the frequency of these inspections
varies according to the nature of the plants held and the corresponding regulatory requirements.
For imported plants and plant products, the Department of
Phytosanitary and Veterinary Border Inspection (SIVEP)
was created in 2010 within the Ministry of Agriculture. It
groups together recognized border inspection posts including the
32 "European Union Entry Points" (EEPs) where imported plants
and plant products are inspected. They must be accompanied by
a phytosanitary certificate issued by the country of origin when
required by European regulations.
About 50,000 batches are inspected upon
import and 1,000 batches are rejected every year. For exported plants and plant products, phytosanitary certificates ensuring that plants are in compliance with phytosanitary requirements of the third countries concerned are
issued by the DRAAFs (regional French government departments)
and the DAAFs (French overseas territories).
About 75,000 phytosanitary certificates are issued
every year, by the 22 DRAAFs and 5 DAAFs.
Seed and seedling quality: in accordance with European
regulations, the seeds and seedlings of a large number of
plant species are subject to additional inspection (compulsory
or voluntary depending on the case) for marketing in the European Union. These inspections are carried out at the moment
of production and marketing, on the basis of phytosanitary criteria (absence of non-quarantine pests) that are either physical
(germination capacity, etc.) or identity-based (varietal identity,
etc.). In France, these inspections are carried out by FranceAgriMer for wood and vine seedlings, by the CTIFL for reproductive fruit stock and by the GNIS/SOC for other seeds and
seedlings.
Other inspections: the DRAAF regional authorities are responsible for primary production health inspections (about 400
plant producers are inspected every year ). They are also responsible for the marketing and use of phytosanitary products, fertilizers and crop supports : about 7,000 of pesticides users are
inspected every year (farmers, municipalities...) and suppliers as
well (cooperatives, traders, garden centers...). During these
controls, plant samples are taken to check compliance with the
maximum residue limits (MRLs) of pesticides (1800 samples each
year).
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How is monitoring carried out? – Monitoring plans implemented by regional French authorities
(DRAAFs) or their delegatees (FREDON). These plans are specifically defined for certain sectors or for certain priority pests
that are regulated, emerging or of export interest.
– An epidemiology surveillance network comprising 13,320 observation plots and 4,000 observers. Epidemiological data is
collected and assessed collegially between the different parties and is then released as a plant health report (BSV). Every
year, 3,000 plant health reports are published.
– Monitoring and informing:
Why do we monitor?
Territorial biological supervision (SBT) is at the core of the Ministry of Agriculture’s service missions. For several decades, it has
been organized:
– to understand the phytosanitary situation in France,
– to ascertain the coutnry’s status regarding regulated or emerging pests in France, in the European Union, or in third countries that import our plant products,
– to improve the quality-based reasoning behind pest control methods,
– to make it possible for any unintended effects of agricultural
practices to be detected and monitored,
– to track the emergence of any resistance to phytopharmaceuticals (400 samples analyzed per year).collected and assessed
collegially between the different parties and is then released
as a plant health report (BSV). Every year, 3,000 plant health
reports are published.
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– A network of 220 on-the-ground forest health correspondents/
observers who make it possible to understand the impact of
climate change and the breakdown of pests and pathogens by
focusing on the risk of pests and emerging diseases being introduced.
– Risk prevention.
The health conditions for the export and phytosanitary certification of exported plants and plant products are available through
the Exp@don application.
In particular, production organizations (especially nurseries) are
encouraged to set up phytosanitary control plans, which ensure
the implementation of internal risk management procedures within these organizations.
https://teleprocedures.franceagrimer.fr/Portail/
DetailAppli.aspx?appli=EXPADON
Indeed, given the regular developments and changes to third
country phytosanitary regulations which become more frequent
with the increase of international trade, this tool makes regulations directly accessible on line to both operating organizations,
thus facilitating export procedures, and to French authorities responsible for official certification. This system, available on-line,
makes it possible both to standardize and increase the effectiveness of French government initiatives regarding phytosanitary
export certification, and to update health certificate models with
the aim of constantly adapting to and complying with changes
made to third country phytosanitary statutes.
– Pest control.
Any detection or suspicion of the presence of a quarantine pest
by the plant owner or holder, or by any person with phytosanitary
expertise, must be immediately reported to French authorities.
Upon official confirmation, the NPPO informs the European Commission and the EPPO of the detection. The EPPO subsequently
passes the information on to the IPPC.
In the event of detection, compulsory control measures may be
ordered by French authorities to ensure that the pest is eradicated or halted.
Pests are now subject to prioritization and categorization according to their phytosanitary, environmental and socio-economic
impact, which consequently makes it possible to optimize resource allocation.
For the most dangerous and troubling pests, contingency plans
are devised to prepare all parties for implementing control measures.
The plant owner or holder has primary responsibility for carrying
out compulsory control measures; such measures are monitored
by French authorities (DRAAF) or their delegatees (FREDON).
Professionals made aware of their responsibilities are encouraged in the pest risk prevention procedure, particularly through
the drafting of phytosanitary best practice guidelines.
The development of biological control methods is encouraged by
ensuring the absence of risks for plant health and biodiversity
emanating from the introduction of exotic biological control auxiliaries into the environment.
– Risk assessment: ANSES / LSV.
As the reference laboratory, ANSES / LSV is responsible for
conducting phytosanitary risk analyses to guide the NPPO's decisions. It has a specific team of plant health experts.
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2. Our organization
The Directorate General for Food (Direction Générale de l'Alimentation or DGAL), within the Ministry of Agriculture, is the French
National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) under the terms
of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The
NPPO is placed under the responsibility of the Chief Plant Officer
(CPO) / Chief Phytosanitary Officer of Plant Health Services
(COPHS). NPPO projects are carried out by two sub-directorates
within the DGAL - the Sub-Directorate for Plant Quality and Protection (SDQPV) and the Sub-Directorate for European and International Health Affairs (SDASEI). On the ground, NPPO
projects are carried out or supervised by the plant protection departments within the Regional Food Departments (Services Régionaux de l'Alimentation or SRAL) of the 22 Regional
Directorates for Agriculture, Agri-food and Forests (DRAAF) for
mainland France, and the Food Departments (SALIM) of the 5
Directorates for Agriculture, Agri-food and Forests (DAAF) of
French overseas territories.
2.1 Head Office: the French Directorate
General for Food (DGAL)
DGAL monitors the safety and quality of food at all stages of the
food chain, as well as the health of plants and animals in coordination with the different stakeholders.
It is responsible for regulating and organizing a system to guarantee plant health safety in France and in all plant environments
(crops, forests, non-agricultural public areas, natural environments, etc.) against regulated or emerging pests.
It establishes the legal provisions corresponding to its missions and controls their application with the support of the
decentralised services.
The NPPO thus sets out and manages the French strategy
for plant protection.
Organization Chart of the French Directorate General for Food
Mission for general affairs
Secrétariat National Food council (NFC)
Director general for Food
Internal audit and national quality Officer
Deputy Director general for Food
Health Emergences Unit
National Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Investigation Unit
Mission for the promotion
of actions and strategy
Department of sanitary actions
for primary production
Department of Food
Public Food
Policy
Food
safety
Animal
Health and
Welfare
Plant
Quality and Protection
Bureau of Seeds
and Plant Health
Department
of Forest Health
Bureau of
Biotechnology,
Biovigilance
and Plant Quality
Bureau
of Regulation and
Marketing of
Material Inputs
Department for the governance
and international affairs
Monitoring
of resources and
transversal actions
European
and International
Sanitary Affairs
Bureau of European
and Multilateral
Negotiations
Bureau of Exports
to Third Countries
Department
of Phytosanitary
and Veterinary
Border Inspection
(SIVEP)
frontier stations
Department
of veterinary and
phytosanitary
expertise
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The French CPO (Chief Phytosanitary Officer) / COPHS (Chief Officer of Plant Health Services) is in charge of the department
of sanitary actions for primary production.
The Sub-Directorate for Plant Quality and Protection (SDQPV) groups together the following departments and bureaus.
Sub-Directorate
for Plant Quality and Protection
Bureau of Seeds
and Plant Health
Department
of Forest Health
Bureau of
Biotechnology,
Biovigilance
and Plant Quality
Bureau
of Regulation
and Marketing of
Material Inputs
- The Bureau of Seeds and Plant Health drafts, implements and assesses policies in the field
of regulated and emerging plant pests. Its tasks include monitoring and controlling quarantine
pests. It also supervises organizations responsible for implementing and regulating the marketing
and certification of seeds and seedlings, and drafts the guiding policy for plant selection and
ensures that it is implemented.
- The Department of Forest Health is responsible for monitoring the phytosanitary conditions
of forests, risk assessment, supporting public and private forest managers and drafting information on forest health.
- The Bureau of Biotechnology, Biovigilance and Plant Quality monitors the biological
conditions of France, ensuring satisfactory sanitary and phytosanitary conditions of plants and
tracking any unintended environmental effects of agricultural practices. It is responsible for inspecting the testing and marketing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as well as the distribution and use of phytosanitary products. It manages the Ecophyto plan which aims to reduce
pesticide use and promotes sensible use of phytosanitary products and integrated pest management.
- Furthermore, within this sub-directorate, the Bureau of Regulation and Marketing of Material Inputs monitors European regulations concerning the marketing of phytosanitary products, fertilizers and crop supports. It delivers marketing authorizations following assessment
and approval from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety
(ANSES).
Within the department for the governance and international affairs, the Sub-Directorate of European and International Sanitary
Affairs (SDASEI) groups together the following departments and bureaus.
Sub-Directorate of European and
International Sanitary Affairs
Department
of Phytosanitary
and Veterinary
Border Inspection
(SIVEP)
frontier stations
Bureau of Exports
to Third Countries
Bureau of European
and Multilateral
Negotiations
- The Department of Phytosanitary and Veterinary Border Inspection (SIVEP), is a nationwide service responsible for implementing and monitoring the sanitary and phytosanitary
inspection framework at the borders. It manages 32 “EEPs,” entry points to the European Union,
including French overseas territories (see map on next page).
- The Bureau of Exports to Third Countries determines the sanitary and phytosanitary certification details for exports to third countries (i.e., outside the European Union). It negotiates the
health and phytosanitary conditions for exporting French agricultural and agri-food products. To
carry out this task, it relies on the French public agency "FranceAgriMer" (export support unit).
- The Bureau of European and Multilateral Negotiations ensures coherence between the
positions adopted vis-à-vis European Union institutions and relevant international organizations.
It monitors international negotiations carried out by the European Commission in sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) fields. It is the national contact for the Agreement on the Application of SPS
Measures of the WTO (World Trade Organization).
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2.2 Operational authority over the decentralised services
To carry out its missions, DGAL is supported by technical services managed by the Prefects of the different French departments and
regions. DGAL has operational authority over these services and regularly sends them instructions.
On the regional level, the Regional Directorates for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DRAAF) are DGAL’s “correspondents”.
The DRAAFs (in mainland France) and the DAAFs (in French overseas territories and départements) are national departments responsible for implementing plant protection policy defined by the DGAL, particularly inspections, monitoring and control. They monitor
health organizations (organismes à vocation sanitaire or OVS) such as the French Federation of Regions for Pest Control (FREDON)
to which they delegate certain inspection tasks.
NPPO aNd PlaNt HealtH.labOratOry (lSV) OfficeS.iN fraNce.
TERRITORIAL COVERAGE
Nord
Pas de Calais
Haute
Normandie
Basse
Normandie
Picardie
Lorraine
Île-de-France
Champagne
Ardenne
Bretagne
Alsace
Pays
de Loire
Centre
Poitou
Charentes
Regional Department
Franche
Comté
Bourgogne
Limousin
LSV Unit
Rhône-Alpes
Auvergne
LSV Quarantine Station
PEC
Aquitaine
Provence-Alpes
Côte d’Azur
Midi-Pyrénées
Languedoc-Roussillon
Corse
Martinique
Guadeloupe
Guyane
La Réunion
Mayotte
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2.5. Network of plant protection experts
2.3 The national reference laboratory and
risk assessor: the French Agency for Food,
Environmental and Occupational Health &
Safety (ANSES) and in particular its Plant
Health Laboratory (LSV)
ANSES is responsible for assessing plant health risks and analyzing phytosanitary risks in particular, to guide the NPPO's decisions. Within ANSES, the LSV is the national reference laboratory
for scientific and technical support. Its activity covers all disciplines relating to plant health (bacteriology, virology, entomology,
mycology and nematology). The LSV is composed of 80 people
on six sites, including a quarantine station for plant imports to
France.
About 12,000 analyses carried out by the LSV
(ANSES) + about 70,000 official analyses carried out
by authorized laboratories, every year.
2.4 Improved governance
Following the French Sanitary Summit in 2010, a new organization leads to optimising the governance and funding of the animal
and plant sanitary policies, particularly concerning plant pest
control.
New consultative bodies have been created (the CNOPSAV :
French National Council for the Orientation of the Animal and
Plant Health Policy and its regional offices), in order to guide monitoring and control policies.
The Board is chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and comprises
different stakeholders (professional organizations, administrative
bodies, INRA - the French National Institute for Agronomic Research, CIRAD - the French Center for International Cooperation
in Agronomic Research for Development, ANSES, universities,
etc.).
On a regional level, the state-recognized regional sanitary associations coordinate prevention, monitoring and control.
The network of plant protection experts is part of the veterinary
and phytosanitary expertise department. Their skills are based
on their on-the-ground knowledge and many discussions with
technical institutes and researchers. Through their collective expertise, the experts take action to provide upstream support to
the DGAL - a risk manager - in its decision-making, particularly
in the fields of pesticide use and plant health. The experts thus
participate in international support projects of the DGAL (SDQPV
and SDASEI). They propose implementation of specific monitoring plans, analyze regulations concerning regulated pests in third
countries and accompany European or third countries on audit
assignments in France.
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3. Focus on our monitoring system
for in-depth knowledge
of France's phytosanitary status
3.1. Territorial Biological Supervision (SBT):
a coherent region-based approach
providing reliable on-the-ground data
collection, processed by shared robust risk
simulation models
Territorial Biological Supervision (SBT) aims to ascertain health
and phytosanitary conditions of plants grown in France and to
monitor the appearance of unintended environmental effects of
agricultural practices. It is carried out by the Territorial Biological
Supervision Committee, which has an advisory role concerning
the observation protocols and methodologies necessary for implementing territorial biological supervision, as well as the outcomes of this supervision.
French SBT is based on several European directives:
– Directive 2000/29/CE of May 8, 2000, on the import and circulation of plants and plant products in the European Union;
– Directives on plant variety rights and the marketing of reproductive materials ;
– Directive 2009/128/CE of October 21, 2009, on proper use
of pesticides.
It includes:
– Active surveillance of regulated and emerging pests: regulated and emerging pests are subject to specific monitoring
and control plans as they must be detected as early as possible
in order to allow quick and effective action.
– Epidemiological surveillance = detection of pests to avoid
their spread in France, organization of pest control and assessment of phytosanitary conditions of France. SBT concerns various sectors (arable crops, viticulture, vegetables, etc.), with
a specific coordinator for each sector.
– Biovigilance = detection and monitoring of unintended effects
of phytosanitary practices on biodiversity indicator species.
Environment-focused observation network.
Territorial Biological Supervision therefore makes it possible to:
– detect pests earlier to quickly limit their impact,
– ensure that products intended for export are free of certain organisms,
– determine the phytosanitary conditions for shaping future technical arrangements.
Furthermore, since 2009, the regional organization of the territorial biological supervision has been restructured under the regulatory framework of the Ecophyto national plan. The aim of the
Ecophyto plan includes reducing farms' dependency on phytopharmaceuticals, while maintaining a high level of agricultural
production, in terms of quantity and quality. The Ecophyto plan
is the French version of Directive 2009/128/CE for sustainable
use of pesticides.
diagram Of territOrial.biOlOgical SuPerViSiON.
Territorial Biological Supervision
Epidemiological surveillance
of plants
and «Plant Health Bulletins»
Active surveillance
of specific regulated
and emerging pests
Detection and monitoring
of unintended effects
of phytosanitary practices
Resistance of pests
to pesticides
Potential impact
of phytosanitary
practices on biodiversity
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3.2 Focus on epidemiological surveillance
The French network involves the main participants in plant protection: farmers, technical institutes, cooperatives, trade, chambers of agriculture, regional federations of review and defense
against pests. Farmers' confidence in these traditional participants makes close collaboration possible and ensures the reliability of transferred data.
France thus implements an observation measure based on
an active, diverse and coherent network.
In each of France's 22 regions there is a regional epidemiological
surveillance committee ensuring overall coherence of national
territorial biological supervision measures, thus making it possible to standardize monitoring protocols and feedback.
« Plant Health Bulletins » published by sectors and regions
"fraNce HaS a NetwOrk Of mOre tHaN.
15,000 PlOtS.rePreSeNtiNg.
SectOrS’ differeNt.climatic,.
agrONOmic.aNd.
PHytOSaNitary.
SituatiONS".
Followed-up
sectors
Field crops sector
Viticulture sector
Vegetable sector
Fruit tree growing sector
Horticultural sector
Other sector
Non agricultural area
Martinique
Guadeloupe
Guyane
La Réunion
Mayotte
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France has monitoring protocols and standardized predictive
models:
– Field observations.
Observers measure the presence of all pests and their phenological stage in relation to their symptoms, presence and the damage they cause.
Observations are scheduled for each plot monitored. The list of
pests to locate and report on is set in advance for each crop type.
These observations must be carried out in accordance with a nationally predefined and standardized timeline and protocol.
– Biological modeling and meteorological observations.
IT models used for assessing the risk of spread are shared among
the different parties concerned. When necessary and possible,
interpretation of raw data is therefore based on a common tool.
For certain pests, simulation models supplement observation to
describe epidemic risk. The weather station network provides
data for parasite risk simulation models or to guide decision-making. This model makes it possible to forecast the development
of certain pests.
– Laboratory analyses.
A laboratory network helps to ensure the reliability of biological
observations carried out in the field (by testing samples to identify pests). Official analyses are carried out by the ANSES Plant
Health Laboratory (LSV) or by state-recognized laboratories.
– Second stage monitoring: state supervision.
French authorities (DRAAF) conduct a second stage observation
led by network partners. They particularly check that plot meshing meets predefined requirements and that observations carried out comply with the standardized protocols.
3.3. SBT reports: collected data made
available in real time
A nationwide database centralizes all information gathered by
the epidemiological surveillance network. This data is analyzed
in each region and made available for the public within 48 hours
through "Plant Health Bulletins" (BSV) available for free on the
websites of the Regional Directorates for Agriculture, Agri-food
and Forests (DRAAF).
BSVs are drafted by regional sector coordinators and intended
for producers, advisors and technicians of each crop. They are
approved by a proofreading committee.
These documents are tools for informing decision-making, grouping together all available information and signaling phytosanitary
risks. They do not include recommendations.
"More than 3,000 BSVs are published every year in
France and more than 75 bulletins are published every
week. All of France is covered, including French overseas territories".
Plant Health Bulletins thus provide farmers and agricultural advisors with the data necessary to apply control measures appropriately.
At a national level, this information is collected in a database
available to partners and government offices involved in risk management (phytosanitary risks and environmental and health risks relating to the
use of these products). Created in 2011,
this database, Epiphyt, receives the epidemiological surveillance data relating to
plant health conditions. It is a vital tool
for DRAAFs, which are in charge of phytosanitary certification for plant and plant product exports
to third countries.
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Glossary of acronyms
ANSES: Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de
l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (French Agency
for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety)
BSV: Bulletin de Santé du Végétal (Plant Health Bulletin)
LSV: Laboratoire de la santé des végétaux, ANSES
(Plant Health Laboratory, ANSES)
MAAF: Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Agroalimentaire et de la
Forêt (French Ministry of Agriculture, Agro-food and Forestry)
CIRAD: (Centre international de la recherche agronomique
pour le développement) Center for International Cooperation
in Agronomic Research for Development
NPPO: National Plant Protection Organization
CNOPSAV: Conseil National d’Orientation de la Politique
Sanitaire Animale et Végétale (French National Board for
Animal and Plant Health Policy Guidance)
PEC: Point d’entrée communautaire (European entry points)
COPHS: Chief Officer of Plant Health Services
CPO: Chief Plant Officer
CTIFL: Centre technique interprofessionnel des fruits
et légumes (French Technical Interprofessional Center for
Fruits and Vegetables)
DAAF: Direction de l’alimentation, de l’agriculture et de la
forêt (Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry)
DGAL : Direction générale de l’alimentation (French
Directorate General for Food)
DRAAF: Direction régionale de l’alimentation, de l’agriculture
et de la forêt (Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and
Forestry)
EPPO: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection
Organization
FREDON: Fédération régionale de défense contre
les organismes nuisibles (French Federation of Regions
for Defense against Pests)
GNIS: Groupement National Interprofessionnel des Semences
et Plans (French National Interprofessional Group of Seeds and
Seedlings)
INRA: Institut national de la recherche agronomique
(French National Institute for Agronomic Research)
IPPC: International Plant Protection Convention
OVS: organismes à vocation sanitaire (sanitary bodies)
SBT: Surveillance Biologique du Territoire (Territorial Biological
Supervision)
SDASEI: Sous Direction des Affaires Sanitaires Européennes
et Internationales (Sub-Directorate for European and
International Health Affairs)
SDQPV: Sous Direction de la Qualité et de la Protection des
Végétaux (Sub-Directorate for Plant Quality and Protection)
SIVEP: Service d’inspection vétérinaire et phytosanitaire aux
frontières (Department of Phytosanitary and Veterinary Border
Inspection)
SOC: Service officiel de contrôle et certification (Official
Inspection and Certification Service)
SPS: Sanitaire et Phytosanitaire (Sanitary and Phytosanitary)
WTO: World Trade Organization
March 2015
www.agriculture.gouv.fr